Document:

Summary:

Link to a column by Sandy Baum and Michael McPherson that argues that the need for post secondary education in the American economy does not limit that education to bachelor's degrees. Arguing for an approach based on realism and pragmatism, they state, "The valuable opportunities provided by open-access postsecondary institutions do encourage the ambitions of many youth, but may shield some of them from the reality of what happens to many students when they actually enroll in these institutions—and at the same time diminish incentives to prepare academically while in high school."